THUGS who repeatedly vandalised a bus and threatened the driver have forced the service to be rerouted.

THUGS who repeatedly vandalised a bus and threatened the driver have forced the service to be rerouted.

The 29A service has been diverted away from Bradbury Road in Winsford after a series of attacks.

The final straw came late on Friday evening when a gang of youths blocked the road, stopping the night bus from continuing along its normal route.

They lay in the middle of the road, deliberately obstructing the bus from getting through. The driver, who was alone on the bus, said he felt so threatened by the gang that he slowed to a snail's pace and carried on driving, and only then did the group move out of the way.

Derek Bowes, commercial manager for Arriva North West and Wales, the company which runs the service, said: 'We can confirm that, after discussions with the county council, we have decided to reroute a section of bus route 29A.

'We have reluctantly take this decision following incidents including stones and bricks being thrown at buses in the Bradbury Road area.

'Customer and employee safety is always our main concern and a full service will be resumed when we are assured that buses can operate safely in this area.

'Should anyone have any information which could lead to the arrest of the culprits, they should contact the police.'

Cheshire county councillor Tony Hooton says Arriva had no choice but to act.

He said: 'I have a great deal of sympathy for the bus operator.

'I don't think they had any other choice but to divert the route so the rest of the town could still benefit from the service.

'I think it's rather self-defeating vandalism as the bus serves the local community.

'I hope that people, and young people in particular, will realise that this is no good.'

The decision is backed by the Cheshire Bus Users Group, which says this type of vandalism cannot be allowed to happen.

Group secretary John Bennison said: 'We fully support the decision.

'Until safety can be guaranteed for the driver and passengers, this service shouldn't run.'

But the cancelled route mean passengers from Bradbury Road have no access to a night-time service.

Mr Bennison added: 'We do feel sorry for passengers who will now have to walk from the top of Crook Lane or Park Avenue, which is quite a walk, and hopefully the issue will be resolved.'

Arriva is working with Cheshire County Council to see if the route can be reinstalled in the future.

Keith Harper, the council's senior operations assistant transport co-ordinator said: 'There is an ongoing problems with youths and vandals. It has been happening for a number of months and has got a little bit out of hand.'